Method for sequestering heavy metal particulates using H2O, CO2, O2, and a source of particulates

ABSTRACT

Methods of sequestering toxin particulates are described herein. In a primary processing chamber, a carbon source of toxin particulates may be combined with plasma from three plasma torches to form a first fluid mixture and vitrified toxin residue. Each torch may have a working gas including oxygen gas, water vapor, and carbon dioxide gas. The vitrified toxin residue is removed. The first fluid mixture may be cooled in a first heat exchange device to form a second fluid mixture. The second fluid mixture may contact a wet scrubber. The final product from the wet scrubber may be used as a fuel product.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a national phase application under 35 U.S.C. §371 ofInternational Application No. PCT/US2013/058331, entitled “Method forSequestering Heavy Metal Particulates Using H₂O, CO₂, O₂, and a Sourceof Particulates,” and filed Sep. 5, 2013, which claims the benefit ofand priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/697,148,entitled “Methods for Generating Fuel Materials and Power, andSequestering Toxins Using Plasma Sources,” which was filed on Sep. 5,2012. The aforementioned applications are incorporated by referenceherein in their entireties and for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

Various materials may be found to be contaminated with heavy metalparticulates. For example, heavy metal particulates may be found in minetailings after extraction of minerals from ore mining Heavy metals suchas, arsenic, uranium, lead, iron, copper, and zinc are commonly found inmine tailings. Heavy metals may leach out of these various materialsinto the environment and may be harmful or toxic. It may be necessary toremove heavy metal particulates from various materials.

It is therefore desirable to develop high efficiency methods forsequestering heavy metal particulates from various materials.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, a method of sequestering toxin particulates mayinclude providing a first working fluid, exposing the first workingfluid to a first high voltage electric field to produce a first fluidplasma, providing a second working fluid, exposing the second workingfluid to a second high voltage electric field to produce a second fluidplasma, providing a third working fluid, exposing the third workingfluid to a third high voltage electric field to produce a third fluidplasma, providing an amount of toxin particulates, contacting the toxinparticulates with the third fluid plasma, the second fluid plasma, andthe first fluid plasma within a primary processing chamber to form afirst fluid mixture and vitrified toxin residue, removing the vitrifiedtoxin residue, transporting the first fluid mixture to a first heatexchange device, cooling the first fluid mixture using the first heatexchange device to form a second fluid mixture, and transporting thesecond fluid mixture to a wet scrubber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A depicts a block diagram of a system for sequestering heavy metalparticulates using H₂O, CO₂, O₂, and a source of toxin particulatesaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 1B depicts a graphical diagram of an electric field generatoraccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 depicts a flow diagram of an illustrative method of sequesteringtoxin particulates according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure is not limited to the particular systems, devices andmethods described, as these may vary. The terminology used in thedescription is for the purpose of describing the particular versions orembodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope.

As used in this document, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skillin the art. Nothing in this disclosure is to be construed as anadmission that the embodiments described in this disclosure are notentitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention. Asused in this document, the term “comprising” means “including, but notlimited to.”

The following terms shall have, for the purposes of this application,the respective meanings set forth below.

As used herein, a toxin particulate may generally include anycomposition of matter that is a poisonous substance. Particular toxinparticulates that may be sequestered include mine tailings, pulverizedmine tailings, heavy metal particulates, or a blend of mine tailings andheavy metal particulates.

As used herein, vitrified toxin residue may generally include anycomposition of toxin matter that is transformed from a source of toxinparticulates through heat fusion after removal of useful substances.Particular vitrified toxin residue includes heavy metal particulates.

Methods described herein may be used to generate various gaseous orliquid fuel materials after removal of heavy metal particulates. In thevarious embodiments described herein, a method of sequestering toxinparticulates may include providing a first working fluid, exposing thefirst working fluid to a first high voltage electric field to produce afirst fluid plasma, providing a second working fluid, exposing thesecond working fluid to a second high voltage electric field to producea second fluid plasma, providing a third working fluid, exposing thethird working fluid to a third high voltage electric field to produce athird fluid plasma, providing an amount of toxin particulates,contacting the toxin particulates with the third fluid plasma, thesecond fluid plasma, and the first fluid plasma within a primaryprocessing chamber to form a first fluid mixture and vitrified toxinresidue, removing the vitrified toxin residue, transporting the firstfluid mixture to a first heat exchange device, cooling the first fluidmixture using the first heat exchange device to form a second fluidmixture, and transporting the second fluid mixture to a wet scrubber.

FIG. 1A depicts a block diagram of a system for sequestering heavy metalparticulates using H₂O, CO₂, O₂, and a source of toxin particulatesaccording to an embodiment. The system may generally include a supply ofcarbon source to provide toxin particulates 105, one or more plasmasources, which may include a first high voltage electric field generator110, a second high voltage electric field generator 115, and a thirdhigh voltage electric field generator 120, a primary processing chamber(PPC) 125, a coolant addition device 128, a residue exit port 126, afirst water input port 129, a first heat exchange device 130, a firstoutput port 132, and a scrubber 135.

FIG. 2 depicts a flow diagram of an illustrative method of sequesteringtoxin particulates according to an embodiment. The method may includeproviding 205 a first working fluid, providing 215 a second workingfluid, and providing 225 a third working fluid. In one non-limitingembodiment, the first working fluid may be oxygen gas (O₂), the secondworking fluid may be water vapor (H₂O), and the third working fluid maybe carbon dioxide gas (CO₂). The first working fluid may be exposed 210to a first high-voltage electric field to generate a first fluid plasma.The second working fluid may be exposed 220 to a second high-voltageelectric field to generate a second fluid plasma. The third workingfluid may be exposed 230 to a third high-voltage electric field togenerate a third fluid plasma. A carbon source for toxin particulatesmay be provided 235, and then contacted 240 with the first fluid plasma,second fluid plasma, and third fluid plasma. A first fluid mixture andvitrified toxin residue is produced within the PPC. The vitrified toxinresidue may be removed 245 and the first fluid mixture may then betransported 250 to a first heat exchange device. The mixture may then becooled 255, and then transported 260 to a wet scrubber.

In some embodiments, a carbon source 105 that provides 235 toxinparticulates may include mine tailings, pulverized mine tailings, minedumps, culm dumps, slimes, tails, refuse, leach residue, slickens,ground rock, mine process effluents, ore process refuse, dross, earthextractions, heavy metal particulates, or combinations thereof. In otherembodiments, the carbon source 105 may include one or more bindingparticulates. The binding particulates may include silicates, clays,iron oxide clays, aluminum oxide clays, allophane clays, humus, orcombinations thereof.

The primary processing chamber (PPC) 120 as used herein may generallyrefer to any chamber that is capable of withstanding one or moreprocessing conditions, such as temperature, pressure, corrosion, and thelike, under which the combustion of working fluid in the presence of,for example, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and water takes place. In someembodiments, the PPC 120 may be incorporated with the one or morehigh-voltage electric fields generators 110, 115, 120. In someembodiments, the PPC may include one or more inlets for receiving plasmafrom the various high voltage electric field generators 110, 115, 120,and at least one outlet for discharging a plasma mixture, as describedin greater detail herein. An illustrative PPC 120 may be a plasma arccentrifugal treatment (PACT) system available from Retech Systems, LLC,(Ukiah, Calif.) which, includes at least one plasma torch.

Each of the one or more high-voltage electric field generators 110, 115,120 may generally be any of various components that may be used togenerate a high voltage potential. FIG. 1B depicts a graphical diagramof an electric field generator according to an embodiment. Thus, asshown in FIG. 1B, each of the one or more high-voltage electric fieldgenerators 110, 115, 120 may have at least one anode surface 150, atleast one cathode surface 155, and an electric potential 160 between theanode surface and the cathode surface. As a result, a magnetic field 165and an electric field 170 may be generated when the electric potential160 is applied between the at least one anode surface 150 and the atleast one cathode surface 155. In some embodiments, a flow of gas, asdescribed in greater detail herein and indicated by the horizontalarrow, may be substantially perpendicular to the magnetic field 165. Inother embodiments, the flow of gas, as indicated by the vertical arrow,may be substantially parallel to the magnetic field 165. The magneticfield 165 and the electric field 170 may each have an effect on gas thatflows through a gap between the anode surface 150 and the cathodesurface 155. In a non-limiting example, the electric field 170 maystabilize the gas and/or ionize the gas. In another non-limitingexample, the magnetic field 165 may alter a spin and/or a velocity ofthe gas.

Within a PPC 125, a first fluid plasma, a second fluid plasma, and athird fluid plasma may be introduced. The first fluid plasma, secondfluid plasma, and third fluid plasma may be contained within the PPC.The first fluid plasma may be generated by exposing 210 a first workingfluid to a first high voltage electric field, generated by a first highvoltage electric field generator 110, such as a first plasma torch, thesecond fluid plasma may be generated by exposing 220 a second workingfluid to a second high voltage electric field, generated by a secondhigh voltage electric field generator 115, such as a second plasmatorch, and the third fluid plasma may be generated by exposing 230 athird working fluid to a third high voltage electric field, generated bya third high voltage electric field generator 120, such as a thirdplasma torch. A plasma torch, as used herein, may generally include anydevice capable of generating a directed flow of plasma. Illustrativeplasma torches may include, but are not limited to, ionized gas plasmagenerating systems, such as Inductively Coupled Plasma, Transferred ArcDC Plasma, and Non-Transferred Arc DC Plasma. As uses herein, the terms“torch” or “torches” refer to plasma torches. The torches may be capableof reaching temperatures ranging of up to about 10,000° F. to about20,000° F. (about 5,540° C. to about 11,090° C.), or more. Each plasmatorch may be a portion of a plasma reactor, which is generally acombination of a plasma torch and a reaction vessel with which theplasma torch is used.

In some embodiments, the first working fluid may be oxygen gas (O₂), thesecond working fluid may be water vapor (H₂O), and the third workingfluid may be carbon dioxide gas (CO₂). In some embodiments, the firstfluid plasma, second fluid plasma, and third fluid plasma may eachattain a temperature of about 20,000° C. at the output of theirrespective plasma torches. In other embodiments, the second workingfluid may also include carbon dioxide. In further embodiments, the thirdworking fluid may include an amount of carbon dioxide obtained from thesecond fluid mixture. In yet further embodiments, the second fluidmixture may include toxic material silicates, toxic material carbonates,vitreous compositions including the toxic materials, or combinationsthereof.

It may be appreciated that the O₂, H₂O, and CO₂ contained within the PPC125 may be used as working fluids for their respective plasma torches.Thus, each gas may be exposed (210, 220, 230) to a high voltage electricfield. As a result of exposure (210, 220, 230) to such fields, the gasesmay be reduced to free radical species (as examples, for H₂O, these mayinclude the hydroxyl radical OH*, and for O₂ these may include thesuperoxide anion radical O2*⁻) in addition to ionized species (for O₂,these may include O⁻, O₂ ⁻, O₂ ⁺, and O⁺). The types and amounts ofreactive species created by exposure of the gases to high voltageelectric fields may differ from those generated by exposure of the gasesto heat alone.

In one non-limiting example of the method, exposing 210 the firstworking fluid to a first high voltage electric field may includeproviding an anode surface and a cathode surface separated by a distanceto create a gap between the two surfaces. The distance may generally beselected such that (for the electrical voltage selected), the electricalfield is about 0.3 kV/cm to about 8.0 kV/cm, including about 0.3 kV/cm,about 0.3149 kV/cm, about 0.5 kV/cm, about 0.75 kV/cm, about 1.0 kV/cm,about 1.25 kV/cm, about 1.5 kV/cm, about 1.574 kV/cm, about 2.0 kV/cm,about 2.5 kV/cm, about 3.0 kV/cm, about 3.149 kV/cm, about 3.5 kV/cm,about 4.0 kV/cm, about 4.5 kV/cm, about 5.0 kV/cm, about 5.5 kV/cm,about 6.0 kV/cm, about 6.5 kV/cm, about 7.0 kV/cm, about 7.5 kV/cm,about 7.559 kV/cm, about 8.0 kV/cm, or any value or range between anytwo of these values (including endpoints). Illustrative distances may beabout 0.15 cm to about 0.65 cm, including about 0.15 cm, about 0.20 cm,about 0.25 cm, about 0.30 cm, about 0.3175 cm, about 0.35 cm, about 0.40cm, about 0.45 cm, about 0.50 cm, about 0.55 cm, about 0.60 cm, about0.65 cm, or any value or range between any two of these values(including endpoints).

A first high voltage electric potential may be induced between the anodesurface and the cathode surface, and the first working fluid may beinduced to traverse the gap between the two surfaces. In onenon-limiting embodiment, the first high voltage potential may be about2.4 kV times the gap distance in centimeters to about 60 kV times thegap distance in centimeters, including about 2.4 kV, about 5 kV, about10 kV, about 20 kV, about 30 kV, about 40 kV, about 50 kV, about 60 kV,or any value or range between any two of these values (includingendpoints). In an embodiment, a voltage between the anode surface andthe cathode surface (which is 0.3175 cm) is 2.4 kV, thereby resulting inan electrical field of about 7.559 kV/cm. In another non-limitingembodiment, the first high voltage electric potential may be an ACpotential having a frequency of about 1 MHz to about 50 MHz, includingabout 1 MHz, about 5 MHz, about 10 MHz, about 20 MHz, about 25 MHz,about 30 MHz, about 40 MHz, about 50 MHz, or any value or range betweenany two of these values (including endpoints). In another non-limitingembodiment, the first high-voltage electric potential may have a currentof about 100 Amperes to about 1000 Amperes, including about 100 Amperes,about 200 Amperes, about 300 Amperes, about 400 Amperes, about 500Amperes, about 600 Amperes, about 700 Amperes, about 800 Amperes, about900 Amperes, about 1000 Amperes, or any value or range between any twoof these values (including endpoints).

In another non-limiting example of the method, exposing 220 the secondworking fluid to a second high voltage electric field may includeproviding an anode surface and a cathode surface separated by a distanceto create a gap between the two surfaces. The distance may generally beselected such that (for the electrical voltage selected), the electricalfield is about 0.3 kV/cm to about 8.0 kV/cm, including about 0.3 kV/cm,about 0.3149 kV/cm, about 0.5 kV/cm, about 0.75 kV/cm, about 1.0 kV/cm,about 1.25 kV/cm, about 1.5 kV/cm, about 1.574 kV/cm, about 2.0 kV/cm,about 2.5 kV/cm, about 3.0 kV/cm, about 3.149 kV/cm, about 3.5 kV/cm,about 4.0 kV/cm, about 4.5 kV/cm, about 5.0 kV/cm, about 5.5 kV/cm,about 6.0 kV/cm, about 6.5 kV/cm, about 7.0 kV/cm, about 7.5 kV/cm,about 7.559 kV/cm, about 8.0 kV/cm, or any value or range between anytwo of these values (including endpoints). Illustrative distances may beabout 0.15 cm to about 0.65 cm, including about 0.15 cm, about 0.20 cm,about 0.25 cm, about 0.30 cm, about 0.3175 cm, about 0.35 cm, about 0.40cm, about 0.45 cm, about 0.50 cm, about 0.55 cm, about 0.60 cm, about0.65 cm, or any value or range between any two of these values(including endpoints).

A second high voltage electric potential may be induced between theanode surface and the cathode surface, and the second working fluid maybe induced to traverse the gap between the two surfaces. In onenon-limiting embodiment, the second high voltage potential may be about2.4 kV times the gap distance in centimeters to about 60 kV times thegap distance in centimeters, including about 2.4 kV, about 5 kV, about10 kV, about 20 kV, about 30 kV, about 40 kV, about 50 kV, about 60 kV,or any value or range between any two of these values (includingendpoints). In an embodiment, a voltage between the anode surface andthe cathode surface (which is 0.3175 cm) is 2.4 kV, thereby resulting inan electrical field of about 7.559 kV/cm. In another non-limitingembodiment, the second high voltage electric potential may be an ACpotential having a frequency of about 1 MHz to about 50 MHz, includingabout 1 MHz, about 5 MHz, about 10 MHz, about 20 MHz, about 25 MHz,about 30 MHz, about 40 MHz, about 50 MHz, or any value or range betweenany two of these values (including endpoints). In another non-limitingembodiment, the second high-voltage electric potential may have acurrent of about 100 Amperes to about 1000 Amperes, including about 100Amperes, about 200 Amperes, about 300 Amperes, about 400 Amperes, about500 Amperes, about 600 Amperes, about 700 Amperes, about 800 Amperes,about 900 Amperes, about 1000 Amperes, or any value or range between anytwo of these values (including endpoints).

In another non-limiting example of the method, exposing 230 the thirdworking fluid to a third high voltage electric field may includeproviding an anode surface and a cathode surface separated by a distanceto create a gap between the two surfaces. The distance may generally beselected such that (for the electrical voltage selected), the electricalfield is about 0.3 kV/cm to about 8.0 kV/cm, including about 0.3 kV/cm,about 0.3149 kV/cm, about 0.5 kV/cm, about 0.75 kV/cm, about 1.0 kV/cm,about 1.25 kV/cm, about 1.5 kV/cm, about 1.574 kV/cm, about 2.0 kV/cm,about 2.5 kV/cm, about 3.0 kV/cm, about 3.149 kV/cm, about 3.5 kV/cm,about 4.0 kV/cm, about 4.5 kV/cm, about 5.0 kV/cm, about 5.5 kV/cm,about 6.0 kV/cm, about 6.5 kV/cm, about 7.0 kV/cm, about 7.5 kV/cm,about 7.559 kV/cm, about 8.0 kV/cm, or any value or range between anytwo of these values (including endpoints). Illustrative distances may beabout 0.15 cm to about 0.65 cm, including about 0.15 cm, about 0.20 cm,about 0.25 cm, about 0.30 cm, about 0.3175 cm, about 0.35 cm, about 0.40cm, about 0.45 cm, about 0.50 cm, about 0.55 cm, about 0.60 cm, about0.65 cm, or any value or range between any two of these values(including endpoints).

A third high voltage electric potential may be induced between the anodesurface and the cathode surface, and the third working fluid may beinduced to traverse the gap between the two surfaces. In onenon-limiting embodiment, the third high voltage potential may be about2.4 kV times the gap distance in centimeters to about 60 kV times thegap distance in centimeters, including about 2.4 kV, about 5 kV, about10 kV, about 20 kV, about 30 kV, about 40 kV, about 50 kV, about 60 kV,or any value or range between any two of these values (includingendpoints). In an embodiment, a voltage between the anode surface andthe cathode surface (which is 0.3175 cm) is 2.4 kV, thereby resulting inan electrical field of about 7.559 kV/cm. In another non-limitingembodiment, the third high voltage electric potential may be an ACpotential having a frequency of about 1 MHz to about 50 MHz, includingabout 1 MHz, about 5 MHz, about 10 MHz, about 20 MHz, about 25 MHz,about 30 MHz, about 40 MHz, about 50 MHz, or any value or range betweenany two of these values (including endpoints). In another non-limitingembodiment, the third high-voltage electric potential may have a currentof about 100 Amperes to about 1000 Amperes, including about 100 Amperes,about 200 Amperes, about 300 Amperes, about 400 Amperes, about 500Amperes, about 600 Amperes, about 700 Amperes, about 800 Amperes, about900 Amperes, about 1000 Amperes, or any value or range between any twoof these values (including endpoints).

It may be understood that the anode and cathode surfaces contacting thefirst working fluid, the second working fluid, and the third workingfluid may be the same set of surfaces or they may differ. If eachworking fluid contacts an independent pair of anode and cathodesurfaces, the respective gap distances may be essentially the same ordifferent, and high voltage electric potentials to which the workingfluids are exposed may have essentially the same or differentcharacteristics.

It may be appreciated that each source of the high voltage electricfields (generators 110, 115, and 120), such as plasma torches, may becontrolled by one or more control systems. Such control systems may bespecific for all the plasma torches together and may be different fromor included with a control system for the entire power generatingsystem. Alternatively, each plasma torch may have a separate controlsystem. A control system for a plasma torch may include controlfunctions for torch parameters, such as, but not limited to, the valueof the high voltage electric fields, and frequency of the high voltageelectric fields. Control of the torches may be based on one or moreprocess measurements, including but not limited to, a measurement of avoltage applied to components that may generate the high voltageelectric fields, a current drain of a voltage supply for the highvoltage electric field generators (110, 115, and 120), such as plasmatorches, the temperature of the plasma output of the high voltageelectric field generators (110, 115, and 120), and the composition ofthe plasma in the PPC 125. It may further be appreciated that each ofthe high voltage electric field generators (110, 115, and 120), asexemplified by plasma torches, may be controlled according to one ormore process algorithms. The plasma torches may be controlled accordingto the same process method or algorithm (as provided by individualcontrollers or a single controller). Alternatively, each of the plasmatorches may be controlled according to a different process method oralgorithm (as provided by individual controllers or by a singlecontroller).

In some embodiments, the three working fluids, exemplified by O₂, H₂O,and CO₂, may be combined into one or two combined working fluids beforebeing supplied to one or more high voltage electric field generators(110, 115, or 120). As a non-limiting example, O₂, H₂O, and CO₂ may becombined into a single combined working fluid to be supplied to a singleplasma torch. By extension, the controllers associated with each of thesupply sources for the O₂, H₂O, and CO₂ may cause a specific amount ofeach gas to be added to the combined working fluid to produce anoptimized ratio of gasses. Similarly, the controller associated with asingle plasma torch may cause the plasma torch to operate under optimumconditions for a specific ratio of gasses in the combined working fluid.

The third fluid plasma, the second fluid plasma, and the first fluidplasma together may be directed to contact 240 a carbon source of toxinparticulates within the PPC, thereby creating a first fluid mixture andvitrified toxin residue. The carbon source of toxin particulates may beprovided 235 from a supply of carbon source of toxin particulates 105.The mechanical components used to transport the carbon source of toxinparticulates into the PPC 125 may be controlled according to someprocess parameters. The control of the transport of the carbon source oftoxin particulates may be supplied by a control system. Such a controlsystem may be specific to the mechanical components used to transportthe carbon source of toxin particulates into the PPC 125. Alternatively,such a control system may be included in a control system that controlsthe entire power generation system.

In some non-limiting examples, the PPC 125 may also be maintained at avacuum or a near vacuum. In one non-limiting example, the PPC 125 may bemaintained at a pressure of about 50 kPa (0.5 atmospheres) to about 507kPa (about 0.5 atmospheres to about 5 atmospheres), including about 50kPa, about 100 kPa, about 150 kPa, about 200 kPa, about 260 kPa, about300 kPa, about 350 kPa, about 400 kPa, about 450 kPa, about 500 kPa,about 507 kPa, or any value or range between any two of these values(including endpoints).

The first fluid mixture, while in the PPC 125, may attain temperaturesof about 4000° C. to about 20000° C. Higher or lower temperatures may beattained according to the conditions under which the high voltage fieldgenerators operate. The first fluid mixture may be cooled within the PPC125, at an exit port of the PPC, in a transport device (such as a pipeor other duct-work) at an exit of the PPC, or at a combination of theselocations through the action of a coolant addition device 128. In onenon-limiting example, the coolant may include liquid oxygen (LOX). Anamount of coolant introduced into the first fluid mixture by the coolantaddition device 128 may be controlled by a control system. In somenon-limiting examples, the amount of the coolant added to the firstfluid mixture may be controlled according to a temperature of the firstfluid mixture, a composition of the first fluid mixture, or othermeasured parameters of the first fluid mixture. Such a control systemmay be associated only with the coolant addition device 128.Alternatively, such a control system may be incorporated into a systemfor controlling the entire power generation system. The addition of thecoolant to the first fluid mixture may reduce the temperature of theresulting fluid mixture (an admixed first fluid mixture) to 1450° C. toabout 1650° C., including about 1450° C., about 1500° C., about 1550°C., about 1600° C., about 1650° C., or any value or range between anytwo of these values. It may be further appreciated that the admixedfirst fluid mixture may have a composition different from that of thefirst fluid mixture.

Vitrified toxin residue may be removed 245 from the first fluid mixturein the PPC 125 through a residue exit port 126 by various methods. Thesemethods may include vacuum removal, centripetal force resulting in thevitrified toxin residue adhering to the walls of the PPC 125, pumping,draining, gravity flow, or combinations thereof.

The first fluid mixture may be transported 250 to a first heat exchangedevice 130. In the first heat exchange device 130, the first fluidmixture may exchange at least some heat with a heat exchange material,and thus cool to form a second fluid mixture. In some non-limitingexamples, the first heat exchange device 130 may be a first heatrecovery steam generator (HRSG). The first heat exchange device 130 mayallow transfer of at least some heat from the first fluid mixture to aheat exchange material, such as water. Water may enter the first heatexchange device 130 through a first water input port 129. The amount ofwater may be controlled by a control system. The heated first heatexchange material, which may include steam as a non-limiting example,may exit the first heat exchange device 130 by means of a first outputport 132. The heated first heat exchange material may be furthertransported to a first electric turbine to generate a first supply ofelectric power.

In one non-limiting example, the first heat exchange material may bewater, which may be converted to a first supply of steam in the firstheat exchange device 130. Once the first supply of steam has activatedthe electric turbine, the first supply of steam may be cooled to liquidwater. In some embodiments, the liquid water may be returned to thefirst heat exchange device 130 to be reheated by more of the first fluidmixture. Alternatively, the first supply of steam, after activating thefirst electric turbine, may be returned to a working fluid source to besupplied to a high voltage electric field generator (110, 115, or 120),such as one of the plasma torches. In some embodiments, the secondworking fluid may include an amount of steam generated by the HRSG.

At an output port 132 of the first heat exchange device 130, the secondfluid mixture may be cooled 255, resulting in a temperature of about 35°C. to about 1650° C., about 38° C. to about 1620° C., about 60° C. toabout 1400° C., about 80° C. to about 1200° C., about 100° C. to about1000° C., about 200° C. to about 800° C., about 400° C. to about 600° C.The composition of the second fluid mixture may be different from thatof the first fluid mixture and that of the admixed first fluid mixture.

The second fluid mixture from the first heat exchange device 130 may betransported 260 to any number of cleaning devices 135 to remove unwantedcomponents, non-limiting examples being sulfur-containing material andmercury-containing materials. Such cleaning devices 135 may include,without limitation, a wet scrubber.

The resultant gas mixture exiting the cleaning devices 135 may includeprimarily carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O). In some embodiments,such gases may be released into the atmosphere. In other embodiments,the gases may be returned to be re-used at appropriate points in theprocess. For example, CO₂ may be returned to the CO₂ supply source whilethe water may be returned to the water supply source for re-use in thePPC 125.

The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particularembodiments described in this application, which are intended asillustrations of various aspects. Many modifications and variations canbe made without departing from its spirit and scope, as will be apparentto those skilled in the art. Functionally equivalent methods andapparatuses within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to thoseenumerated in this disclosure, will be apparent to those skilled in theart from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and variationsare intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Thepresent disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appendedclaims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claimsare entitled. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limitedto particular methods, reagents, compounds, or compositions, which can,of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology usedin this disclosure is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms in this disclosure, those having skill in the art can translatefrom the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the pluralas is appropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth in thisdisclosure for sake of clarity. It will be understood by those withinthe art that, in general, terms used in this disclosure, and especiallyin the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) aregenerally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should beinterpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” shouldbe interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should beinterpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). While variouscompositions, methods, and devices are described in terms of“comprising” various components or steps (interpreted as meaning“including, but not limited to”), the compositions, methods, and devicescan also “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the various componentsand steps, and such terminology should be interpreted as definingessentially closed-member groups.

It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specificnumber of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intentwill be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of suchrecitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid tounderstanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of theintroductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claimrecitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed toimply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should be interpreted to mean “at least one”or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articlesused to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specificnumber of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, thoseskilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should beinterpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the barerecitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, means at leasttwo recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in thoseinstances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C,etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the senseone having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “asystem having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not belimited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and Btogether, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and Ctogether, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the artthat virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or morealternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings,should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including oneof the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, thephrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A”or “B” or “A and B.”

As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and allpurposes, such as in terms of providing a written description, allranges disclosed in this disclosure also encompass any and all possiblesubranges and combinations of subranges thereof. Any listed range can beeasily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same rangebeing broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths,tenths, etc. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed in thisdisclosure can be readily broken down into a lower third, middle thirdand upper third, etc. As will also be understood by one skilled in theart all language such as “up to,” “at least,” and the like include thenumber recited and refer to ranges which can be subsequently broken downinto subranges as discussed above. Finally, as will be understood by oneskilled in the art, a range includes each individual member.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments ofthe present disclosure have been described for purposes of illustration,and that various modifications may be made without departing from thescope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the variousembodiments disclosed are not intended to be limiting, with the truescope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of sequestering toxin particulates, the method comprising: providing a first working fluid; exposing the first working fluid to a first high voltage electric field to produce a first fluid plasma; providing a second working fluid; exposing the second working fluid to a second high voltage electric field to produce a second fluid plasma; providing a third working fluid; exposing the third working fluid to a third high voltage electric field to produce a third fluid plasma; providing an amount of toxin particulates, wherein the toxin particulates comprise one or more binding particulates and the one or more binding particulates include silicates and clays; contacting the toxin particulates with the third fluid plasma, the second fluid plasma, and the first fluid plasma within a primary processing chamber to form a first fluid mixture and vitrified toxin residue; removing the vitrified toxin residue; transporting the first fluid mixture to a first heat exchange device; cooling the first fluid mixture using the first heat exchange device to form a second fluid mixture; and transporting the second fluid mixture to a wet scrubber.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first working fluid is oxygen gas.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second working fluid is water vapor.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the third working fluid is carbon dioxide gas.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the toxin particulates comprise one or more of the following: pulverized mine tailings and heavy metal particulates.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the first working fluid to a first high voltage electric field comprises: providing an anode surface; providing a cathode surface at a distance from the anode surface, to create a gap between the anode surface and the cathode surface; providing a first high voltage electric potential between the anode surface and the cathode surface of about 2.4 kV times the distance in centimeters to about 60 kV times the distance in centimeters; and causing the first working fluid to traverse the gap.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first high voltage electric potential has a frequency of about 1 MHz to about 50 MHz.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the second working fluid to a second high voltage electric field comprises: providing an anode surface; providing a cathode surface at a distance from the anode surface to create a gap between the anode surface and the cathode surface; providing a second high voltage electric potential between the anode surface and the cathode surface of about 2.4 kV times the distance in centimeters to about 60 kV times the distance in centimeters; and causing the second working fluid to traverse the gap.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second high voltage electric potential has a frequency of about 1 MHz to about 50 MHz.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the third working fluid to a third high voltage electric field comprises: providing an anode surface; providing a cathode surface at a distance from the anode surface to create a gap between the anode surface and the cathode surface; providing a third high voltage electric potential between the anode surface and the cathode surface of about 2.4 kV times the distance in centimeters to about 60 kV times the distance in centimeters; and causing the third working fluid to traverse the gap.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the third high voltage electric potential has a frequency of about 1 MHz to about 50 MHz.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the first working fluid to a first high voltage electric field comprises causing the first working fluid to pass through a first plasma torch.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the second working fluid to a second high voltage electric field comprises causing the second working fluid to pass through a second plasma torch.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the third working fluid to a third high voltage electric field comprises causing the third working fluid to pass through a third plasma torch.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the first fluid mixture has a temperature of about 7230° F. (4000° C.) to about 36000° F. (20000° C.).
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein cooling the first fluid mixture comprises cooling the first fluid plasma mixture to a temperature of about 100° F. (38° C.) to about 2950° F. (1620° C.).
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the first heat exchange device is a heat recovery steam generator.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second working fluid comprises at least in part an amount of steam generated by the heat recovery steam generator.
 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the second fluid mixture further comprises carbon dioxide.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the third working fluid comprises at least in part an amount of carbon dioxide obtained from the second fluid mixture.
 21. The method of claim 1, wherein the second fluid mixture further comprises one or more of the following: toxic material silicates, toxic material carbonates, and vitreous compositions including the toxic materials. 